Before they took the elevator down, the DM in charge of the escape room explained its difficulty and scare level to the four of them. Since three of them were beginners, the DM also offered a few tips for clearing it and ways to ask for help.
"I recommend that players who are good at science take route A, and those with stronger nerves take route B."
Shen Mu Lan swallowed nervously at that. "Route B... is it really scary?"
"If you have a lower tolerance for horror elements, we can reduce the difficulty accordingly."
Hearing this, Ji Yanzhi gave Shen Mu Lan a half-smile. "You're scared before we've even gone in? Who was it that suggested an escape room?"
"Who's scared?" Shen Mu Lan's voice suddenly rose, then he huffed. "Just don't end up drenched in sweat and saying you'll never play again when we come out."
Ji Yanzhi chuckled dismissively. "If you're not scared, sign the form."
As the elevator dinged, the attendant NPC waiting outside pulled open the old-fashioned gate. "Please remove your blindfolds."
Once Ji Ting and Ji Yanzhi had done so, the impeccably suited butler bowed. "Esteemed sheriff and forensic examiner, welcome to Count Lane's dinner party."
The same scene played out on Shen Mu Lan and Sun Ye's side, where their assigned identities were a journalist and a lawyer.
The two pairs exchanged glances, and Sun Ye waved the walkie-talkie in his hand. "Keep in touch."
Attendants lined both sides of the corridor. The butler gestured toward the banquet hall with his right hand. "This way, please."
Just as the four were about to move, a piercing scream suddenly came from the other end of the corridor. They turned toward the sound and saw a maid scrambling out of a room.
"H-help..." The maid